No one paid much attention to Armin Wiebe's writing until he stumbled into the voice of Yasch Siemens, a voice he has riffed off in numerous ways in his Gutenthal novels, the stage play The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz., and in some of the stories in Armin's Shorts. In less obvious ways, his award-winning novel Tatsea carries his obsession with voices into new territory.
Novels, Short Stories, Plays
Grandmother, Laughing
News
"If I don't tell this, nobody will ever know."
Armin Wiebe's much-anticipated new novel Grandmother, Laughing brings readers back to his beloved world of Gutenthal. Wiebe's critically acclaimed stageplay The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz has gone from stage to page in Grandmother, Laughing, which follows the life and love of the Kehlers and their unconventional family.
Exploring the nature of love and the lengths some will go to find joy, Wiebe's fifth novel is both heartbreaking and beautiful. His most poignant work yet, Grandmother, Laughing is a triumph from one of Manitoba's most talented storytellers.
Exploring the nature of love and the lengths some will go to find joy, Wiebe's fifth novel is both heartbreaking and beautiful. His most poignant work yet, Grandmother, Laughing is a triumph from one of Manitoba's most talented storytellers.
Readers say:
"Huy yuy yuy, that was a good read! I love Grandmother, Laughing. Thank you for imagining that world -- the landscapes, the characters, the atmosphere of love -- and gifting it your readers." -Lois Braun, author of The Penance Drummer
"Just finished the novel. I enjoyed it! Very subtle in its portrayal of Mennonite feelings. Bravo!"
-Diane Driedger, author of Red With Living
"I finished your book this week, Armin. A great read, so much poetry in this one. No one has a voice like yours."-Elizabeth Falk
"This is a great read!"-Mary Neufeld, author of A Prairie Pilgrim
"I like the flowery, colourful language. Enjoyed the book."
-Marien Breen
"I finished reading Grandmother, Laughing on Saturday and have been letting images and moments from it drift around inside me for the past couple of days. It's a great read, Armin. Congratulations."
- Kim McCaw, director of The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz
"... I loved Grandmother, Laughing and recently sent a copy to a friend in South Africa. She is Afrikaans and finds the low Dutch reminiscent of her mother tongue and the humour very much to her taste."
-Meira Cook, author of Once More With Feeling
"Tears (of sadness and laughter) evoked by the absolutely beautiful (surprise) ending. I was, from start to finish, engaged by all of the evocative language, and your way with words, the (Mennonite) rural/farming lifestyle, the engaging Biblical references, the perspective on music-as-gift, the epic story and, of course, the characters. I'll say that I haven't enjoyed a novel as much as I did "Grandmother Laughing" in a long time."
-Bruce Sarbit, playwright, All or Nothing
"Finished Armin Wiebe's wonderful new book late last night. It resonates with me on so many levels: deep nostalgia for the landscape of my childhood, the complicated catharsis of music, fences built around (and within) families, and how our unique histories keep bubbling up in the present. What a pleasure to return to Gutenthal."
-Jeremy Hiebert
"I'm almost finished reading your book and wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying it. It's like an intricately crafted doily, beautiful and functional at the same time, something to be treasured. You have so much love for these characters, which makes the reader love them too--love everyone, each other, just a little more. You are, and always will be, an exceptional storyteller!"
-Janine Tschunky of Prairie Fire
"Hello Armin, i am sitting in my sunroom (my version of the lawnswing), having just finished Grandmother, Laughing. My goodness, it is masterful. You have captured Susch's deepest thoughts and feelings, you take me to southern Manitoba in the 1920s and to Russia in the revolution. It is wry, it is poignant, it is wonderful. Thank you, thank you. Wow. I have to go for a walk now to let it all sink in. The sidewalks aren't the prairies, but with the pictures you painted, I can imagine."
-Harriet Zaidman, author of Benny's Dream Horse
"Huy yuy yuy, that was a good read! I love Grandmother, Laughing. Thank you for imagining that world -- the landscapes, the characters, the atmosphere of love -- and gifting it your readers." -Lois Braun, author of The Penance Drummer
"Just finished the novel. I enjoyed it! Very subtle in its portrayal of Mennonite feelings. Bravo!"
-Diane Driedger, author of Red With Living
"I finished your book this week, Armin. A great read, so much poetry in this one. No one has a voice like yours."-Elizabeth Falk
"This is a great read!"-Mary Neufeld, author of A Prairie Pilgrim
"I like the flowery, colourful language. Enjoyed the book."
-Marien Breen
"I finished reading Grandmother, Laughing on Saturday and have been letting images and moments from it drift around inside me for the past couple of days. It's a great read, Armin. Congratulations."
- Kim McCaw, director of The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz
"... I loved Grandmother, Laughing and recently sent a copy to a friend in South Africa. She is Afrikaans and finds the low Dutch reminiscent of her mother tongue and the humour very much to her taste."
-Meira Cook, author of Once More With Feeling
"Tears (of sadness and laughter) evoked by the absolutely beautiful (surprise) ending. I was, from start to finish, engaged by all of the evocative language, and your way with words, the (Mennonite) rural/farming lifestyle, the engaging Biblical references, the perspective on music-as-gift, the epic story and, of course, the characters. I'll say that I haven't enjoyed a novel as much as I did "Grandmother Laughing" in a long time."
-Bruce Sarbit, playwright, All or Nothing
"Finished Armin Wiebe's wonderful new book late last night. It resonates with me on so many levels: deep nostalgia for the landscape of my childhood, the complicated catharsis of music, fences built around (and within) families, and how our unique histories keep bubbling up in the present. What a pleasure to return to Gutenthal."
-Jeremy Hiebert
"I'm almost finished reading your book and wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying it. It's like an intricately crafted doily, beautiful and functional at the same time, something to be treasured. You have so much love for these characters, which makes the reader love them too--love everyone, each other, just a little more. You are, and always will be, an exceptional storyteller!"
-Janine Tschunky of Prairie Fire
"Hello Armin, i am sitting in my sunroom (my version of the lawnswing), having just finished Grandmother, Laughing. My goodness, it is masterful. You have captured Susch's deepest thoughts and feelings, you take me to southern Manitoba in the 1920s and to Russia in the revolution. It is wry, it is poignant, it is wonderful. Thank you, thank you. Wow. I have to go for a walk now to let it all sink in. The sidewalks aren't the prairies, but with the pictures you painted, I can imagine."
-Harriet Zaidman, author of Benny's Dream Horse
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Five Stars! Amazon.com
"Wiebe's best book. Beautifully crafted and surprising." -Daniel S. Cruz
"Wiebe's best book. Beautifully crafted and surprising." -Daniel S. Cruz
Turnstone Select presents
The Salvation of Yasch Siemens with a preface by the author and an afterword by Nathan Dueck!
The Salvation of Yasch Siemens with a preface by the author and an afterword by Nathan Dueck!